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The antibiotic regimens for prophylaxis in the management of open fractures remain controversial. Although the use of aminoglycosides is widely accepted for treatment of Gustilo type III open fractures, aminoglycosides are often avoided in patients with risk factors. This study aimed to compare efficacy and safety of two regimens, cephazolin plus aminoglycoside (amikacin or gentamicin) and ampicillin/sulbactam (ABPC/SBT), in patients with Gustilo type IIIA open fractures.A total of 95 Gustilo type IIIA fractures in 90 patients were retrospectively reviewed in this study. The cohort was categorized into two groups that were treated in accordance with the institutional prescribed regimen in different periods: (1) cefazolin plus aminoglycoside (January 1, 2014-September 30, 2017) and (2) ABPC/SBT monotherapy (October 1, 2017-September 30, 2020). Cefazolin was used at 1-2 g every 8 h, aminoglycoside (amikacin or gentamicin) was used daily depending on body weight, and ABPC/SBT was used at 3 g every 8 h The antibiotic administration was continued within 3 days or until successful soft tissue coverage was achieved. The infection rate and the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in both groups were assessed.ABPC/SBT was used in 34 patients (36 fractures), and 56 patients (59 fractures) received cefazolin plus aminoglycoside for antibiotic prophylaxis. Infection developed in 2 of 36 fractures in ABPC/SBT group and 4 of 59 fractures in the cefazolin plus aminoglycoside group (p0.99). The average serum creatinine levels on admission, baseline, and peak during the hospital stay were not significantly different between the two groups. One case of AKI was identified in each group, indicating that incidence rate of AKI was not significantly different between the two groups.We demonstrated the non-inferiority of ABPC/SBT therapy over cefazolin plus aminoglycoside regimen for type IIIA open fractures. The ABPC/SBT regimen may be an alternative option for managing Gustilo type IIIA open fractures. Further prospective studies with larger samples are needed to verify these results.

Compatibilizers added into filler-reinforced polymer composites are supposed to bring about the enhancement of mechanical properties by binding with the filler and entanglement with the polymer matrix. We elucidated the binding of maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene (MAPP) compatibilizer and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) filler. This is usually not readily detectable by spectroscopy. For this, we adopted a set of enzymatic digestion and refined but simple spectroscopy. A series of binary composites of MCC and MAPP was prepared by kneading. By the cellulolytic treatment and an adequate heat processing, we obtained clear IR signals due to the binding. Furthermore, by gel (swollen)-state NMR method which has attracted attention for analyzing plant cell wall, we acquired interface-specific liquid-state NMR spectra giving the information of the bonds between these components insoluble in commonly used solvents. Such analytical methods provide a useful perspective on the relationship between the microstructure and compatibility of composite materials.

Melanocortin receptor 3 (MC3R) is expressed in the hypothalamus and pituitary in humans and rodents, and is involved in the control of feeding, energy metabolism, and pituitary function. In the mouse pituitary, MC3R is detected in mammotrophs. This study aimed to clarify the regulatory mechanism for Mc3r expression in the mouse pituitary. The promoter activities of reporter constructs for the MC3R gene 5'-flanking region up to -4000 bp (transcription initiation site designated as +1) were analyzed. The promoter activity significantly increased in the -86/+109 construct, but decreased in the -38/+109 construct, indicating that the minimal promoter required for basal expression of Mc3r is located in the -86/+109 region. Putative binding sites for transcription factors AP-1 and ATF4 were found in the 5'-flanking region of Mc3r. Site-directed mutation or deletion of these sites affected the promoter activities. In gel-shift assays with a nuclear extract of mouse anterior pituitary cells, band-shifts were detected for both sites after the addition of the nuclear extract, and were decreased in the presence of excess unlabeled probe competitors. These results indicated that both sites were involved in the regulation of Mc3r expression in anterior pituitary cells. Estradiol-17β treatment increased the Mc3r promoter activity, indicating that the gene is regulated by estradiol-17β. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the minimum promoter region required for Mc3r expression, and identified two binding sites for AP-1 and ATF4 and in the 5' upstream-flanking region of Mc3r that are essential for Mc3r expression.

Optical properties, including optical transmittance, absorption coefficient, refractive index, and dielectric constant, of Sr7%, Ce15% co-doped GdF 3 crystal grown by the Czochralski method are discussed. Moreover, α-ray responses, including emission spectrum, pulse height spectrum, and decay time, are also presented. This is the first report on refractive index, dielectric constant, and light yield under α-ray irradiation of the Sr:Ce:GdF 3 single crystal.

In this study, (Gd1−xYx)F3 (x=0.2, 0.4, 0.5 0.6 and 0.8) crystals were grown by the μ-PD method. Neither visible inclusions nor cracks were observed in (Gd1−xYx)F3 (x=0.4, 0.5 and 0.6) crystals. Lattice constants increase linearly as the Y3+ concentration decreases. Using (Gd1−xYx)F3 as a host material, the Sr0.5% Ce1%, 3%, 5% and 7% co-doped Gd0.5Y0.5F3 single crystal was prepared. In this crystal, Ce3+-perturbed luminescence at 380 nm is observed with 31.8 ns photoluminescence decay time. Under X-ray excitation rather high radioluminescence intensity of this band was obtained exceeding that of BGO scintillator. The energy transfer in the sequence of regular Ce3+→ (Gd3+)n→ perturbed Ce3+ sites was evidenced though observation of decay time shortening of the regular Ce3+ and Gd3+ centers and intensity change between Gd3+ and Ce3+-perturbed emission.

Pr1%:K(Y 1− x Lu x ) 3 F 10 ( x =0, 0.2, 0.4) single crystals were grown by the μ-PD method. All the grown crystals were greenish and perfectly transparent without any inclusions or cracks. Radioluminescence spectra and decay kinetics of the Pr1%:K(Y,Lu) 3 F 10 crystals were measured. Emission from the Pr 3+ 5d–4f transition, peaking around 260 nm and of the decay time of around 22 ns were observed. The 5d–4f emission intensities of the Pr1%:K(Y,Lu) 3 F 10 crystals were higher than that of the standard BGO scintillator.

Bacillus cereus strain 10-L-2 synthesizes two arylamine N-acetyltransferases (Nat-a and Nat-b) with broad substrate specificities toward aniline and its derivatives. In southern blot analysis using probes encoding the NH2-terminus of Nat-b and a conserved region of N-acetyltransferases, digested total DNA of strain 10-L-2 showed one positive band. We cloned and sequenced the gene encoding Nat-b. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence predicted from the open reading frame (768 base pairs) corresponded to that of purified Nat-b. The cloned Nat-b gene was expressed in Escherichia coli. The expressed enzyme (BcNAT) from the recombinant strain was partially purified and characterized. Nat-b from strain 10-L-2 and BcNAT from the recombinant strain were slightly different from each others in substrate specificity and thermo-stability. We examined the biotransformations of 2-aminophenols and phenylenediamines by the whole cells of the recombinant strain. The cells converted these compounds into their corresponding acetanilides. Only one amino group of phenylenediamines was acetylated. The cells utilized 4-nitroacetanilide as an acetyl donor instead of acetyl-CoA. 4-Aminoacetanilide was produced and 4-nitroaniline was released almost stoichiometrically.

A newly isolated strain, MS-2-5, identified as Bacillus halodurans , produced five alkaline and thermotolerant amylases. The five amylases, named amylases A–E, were separated from each other, and purified to homogeneity. The molecular masses of these amylases were different from each other, and estimated to be 90, 85, 70, 65, and 58 kDa. These amylases showed the maximal activities at 60–65 °C and pH 10.5–11. A predominant product by each enzyme reaction was maltotetraose. These amylases were classified as an α-amylase by anomeric form analysis of the reaction products. Internal amino acid sequence analyses of the purified enzymes suggested that these enzymes were produced from a single polypeptide by proteolytic degradation. The gene, named amyA , was cloned and expressed in the T7 promoter systems of Escherichia coli . To increase yield and productivity of recombinant enzyme, cultivation conditions were examined. The maximal amount of enzyme was produced when an E. coli transformant carrying amyA was cultivated at 25 °C in Luria-Bertani medium supplemented with 1.0% d -glucose, 1.0% d -sorbitol, 0.1% MgSO 4 ·7H 2 O, and 2.0% yeast extract. The yield of the transformant increased 104-fold as, compared with that of the parent strain MS-2-5.

Bacillus pumilus X-6-9 isolated from soil and subsequently identified, produced xylooligosaccharides with long chains from xylan and accumulated them in the culture. By improving the culture conditions and mutating the bacterium, a 3.2-fold increase in the production of the xylooligosaccharides was established, when compared to the original culture conditions of B. pumilus X-6-19. The addition of D-glucose to the culture of the mutant strain U-3 of B. pumilus X-6-9 repressed the synthesis of beta-xylosidase, but not xylanase. Thus, it was revealed that strain U-3 was a good organism for the production and accumulation of xylooligosaccharides with long chains from xylan by a microbial culture. Xylanase produced by strain U-3 was purified to homogeneity and characterized. The hydrolyzates generated by the purified xylanase contained xylobiose, xylotriose, xylotetraose, and xylopentaose, but not xylose.

Lactobacillus casei TISTR 1500 was isolated from soil of a dairy wastewater treatment plant and selected as the most active azo dye degrader of 19 isolates. Growing cells and freely suspended cells of this strain completely degraded methyl orange, thereby decolorizing the medium. The strain stoichiometrically converted methyl orange to N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine and 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid, which were identified by HPLC, GC, and GC-MS analyses. The enzyme activity responsible for the cleavage of the azo bond of methyl orange was localized to the cytoplasm of cells grown on modified MRS medium containing methyl orange. The effect of sugars, oligosaccharides, organic acids, metal ions, pHs, oxygen and temperatures on methyl orange decolorization by freely suspended cells was investigated. The optimal conditions for the decolorization of methyl orange by the Lactobacillus casei TISTR 1500 are incubation at 35 degrees C and pH 6 with sucrose provided as the energy source.

Eighteen bacterial stock cultures were examined for their ability to utilize NH(4)(+) and NO(3)(-) simultaneously in a medium containing NH(4)NO(3) with shaking using a test tube capped with a cotton stopper. Pseudomonas aeruginosa NBRC 12689 utilized 1 mg/ml of NH(4)NO(3) most rapidly of the cultures tested. The bacterium could completely utilize 5 mg/ml of NH(4)NO(3) within 3 d, 6 mg/ml of NH(4)Cl within 3 d, and 20 mg/ml of NaNO(3) within 2 d under optimum conditions. The addition of Fe(2+) to the NH(4)NO(3) medium markedly promoted the utilization of the two ions. When the Pseudomonas strain utilized 5 mg/ml of NH(4)NO(3) completely, the total nitrogen in the culture including its cells decreased to 41% of that of the NH(4)NO(3) originally provided. GC-MS analysis showed that the removed nitrogen was probably denitrified. When the bacterium was incubated in the NH(4)NO(3) medium with shaking in a vial sealed with a rubber stopper, N(2) accumulated, but not N(2)O at the final phase of cultivation. On the other hand, both N(2) and N(2)O were detected in the NaNO(3) medium. We concluded that the bacterium removed NH(4)(+) from NH(4)NO(3) as a nitrogen source for its cell components, together with the denitrification of NO(3)(-) under controlled shaking conditions. In addition, NH(4)(+) promoted the cell growth of the bacterium and denitrification to N(2), preventing the accumulation of N(2)O.

A bacterium, strain 10-L-2, that was isolated from soil and identified as Bacillus cereus grew well on medium containing 4-phenylenediamine and Polypepton. Strain 10-L-2 converted a wide variety of anilines, including 4-phenylenediamine, to their corresponding acetanilides. Growing cells acetylated a single amino group of 4-phenylenediamine to form 4-aminoacetanilide with a 97% molar yield, as shown by mass spectrometry and HPLC. Cell extracts exhibited arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity toward 4-phenylenediamine. Two NATs, namely, NAT-a and NAT-b, were separated by DE52 column chromatography and were further purified and characterized. The subunit molecular masses of NAT-a and NAT-b were 31.0 and 27.5 kDa, respectively, as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis. The two enzymes had similar pH- and thermo-stabilities and were similarly affected by pH, temperature, and several reagents. The enzymes showed peak activity toward 5-aminosalicylic acid of the substrates tested, but they differed in substrate specificity. Only NAT-a had activity toward sulfamethazine. Although other wild-type bacterial cultures also synthesize NAT, the ability of strain 10-L-2 to convert and detoxify 4-phenylenediamine is much higher. This report provides the first evidence of two NATs in a eubacterium.

We report herein the microphase separation structures (nanostructures) observed in Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers of an ABA block copolymer comprising of azobenzene-containing methacrylate and poly(ethylene oxide) as A and B block, respectively. After spreading this polymer on water in the trans and cis form of azobenzene, the monolayer is transferred onto mica at 1 mN m−1. The morphological features are observed by atomic force microscopy. The features of the nanostructures formed in the monolayers have obviously different features in the isomerization state of azobenzene. The conversions of the morphological features accompanied by the isomerization of azobenzene are attempted by light irradiation and dark adaptation. This paper focuses on the features in morphological conversions attained in the photo- and thermal processes.

A bacterial isolate, strain PDa-1, grew well on basal medium supplemented with 2-phenylenediamine, sucrose, and ammonium nitrate and completely transformed 2-phenylenediamine. The isolate was identified as Bacillus cereus. The product formed from 2-phenylenediamine was identified by EI-MS and NMR as 2-aminoacetanilide; whole cells converted 2-phenylenediamine to the product with a 76% molar yield. Whole cells also showed a broad substrate specificity toward 20 of 26 tested arylamines with substituent groups of various size and positions. Especially 2-aminobenzoic acid, 4-aminosalicylic acid, 5-aminosalicylic acid, and 2-aminofluorene were converted completely to the corresponding product with an aminoacetyl group. Cell extracts of strain PDa-1 had a high arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity. The partially purified enzyme converted 2-phenylenediamine to 2-aminoacetanilide. Strain PDa-1 constitutively expressed the enzyme in the absence of 2-phenylenediamine. Effects of 2-phenylenediamine and 2-aminoacetanilide on growth indicated that this enzyme probably plays a role in the detoxification of toxic arylamines in this strain.

New rare-earth trifluorides of Gd1−xYbxF3 crystals were grown using the micro-pulling-down (μ-PD) method and single crystals were obtained for composition of x between 0.12 and 0.42 in the current study. Neither visible inclusions nor cracks were observed. Room temperature up-conversion luminescence spectra of Praseodymium (Pr3+) -doped Gd1−xYbxF3 were studied. Visible Pr3+ emission was obtained under infrared laser pumping on the ytterbium (Yb3+) absorption broadband at 935.5 nm. The origin of this emission will be discussed as a function of the decay times.

Pr-doped KY 3 F 10 (Pr:KYF) single crystals were grown by the micro-pulling-down ( μ -PD) method. The crystals were transparent with a slightly greenish color, 2.5–3.0 mm in diameter and 35–45 mm in length. Neither visible inclusions nor cracks were observed. Photoluminescence spectra and decay kinetics of Pr:KYF were measured. Emission due to Pr 3+ 5d–4f transition, peaking around 260 nm and of the decay time of 24 ns was observed. The short decay time suggests such a Pr-doped material for a scintillator application. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the Pr 3+ 5d–4f luminescence transition accomplished in a fluoride host.

Bordetella sp. 10d produces a novel dioxygenase catalyzing the meta-cleavage of 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzoate 2,3-dioxygenase (4A3HBA23D). A gene encoding 4A3HBA23D was cloned and named ahdA. The deduced amino acid sequence of ahdA showed 29.2-24.2% identities to those of prokaryotic and eukaryotic 3-hydoxybenzoate 3,4-dioxygenases in reported meta-cleavage dioxygenases. However, no identities were observed in the amino-terminal sequences of the first 29 amino acid residues. An ORF was found downstream of ahdA. The deduced amino acid sequence of the ORF showed identities to those of LysR family regulators involved in protocatechuate metabolism and contained motifs conserved in the regulators. On the basis of these results, the ORF was named ahdR encoding a putative LysR family regulator. The transcription start point of ahdA was localized 414-bp upstream of the start codon of ahdA. Two DNA-binding motifs of LysR family regulators were found upstream of the transcription start point. These observations suggest that a LysR family regulator encoded by ahdR regulates the expression of ahdA.

In tunnel excavation by Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), it is difficult to grasp the ground condition ahead of and surrounding the tunnel face because the face cannot be observed during tunnel driving. This is the reason why it has not been possible to make the best use of high-speed excavation capability of the TBM, especially in ground under complex conditions. Thus, the TBM Excavation Control System was developed to realize the accurate prediction of the geological condition ahead of and surrounding the tunnel face simultaneously with excavation. The special feature of this system is that geostatistical techniques are introduced into the data analysis using both drill logging data from pilot boring and TBM driving data obtained during excavation, in order to improve the precision of the ground mapping.

We use singularity theory methods in bifurcation theory to investigate an oscillatory flow at the onset of a so-called saline oscillation. An oscillatory flow of water is generated when a cup containing saline water, with a small orifice in its base, is placed within an outer vessel containing pure water. This simple system exhibits various nonlinear characteristics, such as a limit cycle, bifurcation of the oscillatory flow and entrainment among the oscillators. We analyze the existence of a limit cycle and a bifurcation to the oscillatory flow theoretically by proposing a mathematical model of this system.

The aniline-assimilating bacterium Frateuria species ANA-18 produced two catechol 1,2-dioxygenases, CD I and CD II, and two muconate cycloisomerases, MC I and MC II. The catA genes catA1 and catA2 encoding CD I and CD II, respectively, were cloned from a gene library of this bacterium. The catA1 gene was clustered with catB1 encoding MC I, catC1 encoding muconolactone isomerase (MI), catD encoding beta-ketoadipate enol-lactone hydrolase (ELH), and ORFR1 encoding a putative LysR-type regulator. The organization of these genes was ORFR1catB1C1D. The catA2 gene also constructed a gene cluster involving catB2 encoding MC II, catC2 encoding MI, and ORFR2 encoding a putative LysR-type regulator with the alignment of ORFR2catB2A2C2. The intergenic regions of ORFR1-catB1 and ORFR2-catB2 contained homologous sequences with the catR-catB intergenic region containing a repression binding site and activation binding site of CatR in Pseudomonas putida. These findings suggest that the two cat clusters were regulated independently in their expression. When a product of cloned catD was added to a reaction mixture containing beta-ketoadipate enol-lactone, beta-ketoadipate was produced. This observation showed that the cloned catD encoded ELH and was expressed in Escherichia coli. We found that Frateuria sp. ANA-18 had a large plasmid with a molecular size more than 100kb. Polymerase chain reaction amplifying partial catA genes and Southern hybridization analyses with probes containing catA genes were conducted, to examine the localization of the two catA genes. We concluded that the catA1 and catA2 genes were located on the chromosomal and large plasmid DNAs, respectively, in Frateuria sp. ANA-18.

Resting cells of the transpositional mutant strain B-9, which was obtained from the aniline-assimilating Pseudomonas sp. AW-2 and produced catechol from aniline, exhibited the ability to oxidize 16 aromatic amines among 26 tested. Thirteen products from the 16 amines were purified and crystallized. Analytical data including mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the products showed that methyl, dimethy, ethyl, chloro-, fluoro-, and hydroxyl derivatives of aniline were converted to the corresponding catechols. In particular, catechols were synthesized from o-, m-, and p-toluidine, p-fluoroaniline, and m-aminophenol at a conversion rate of 100%. It was revealed that strain B-9 cells exhibited extensive substrate specificity for aromatic amines, regardless of the position of substituent groups in their isomers.

Twenty-four transpositional mutants of aniline-assimilating Pseudomonas sp. AW-2 produced catechol from aniline and accumulated it in a cultural medium. Among the 24 mutants, strain B-9 produced a maximal amount of catechol (0.97 mg/ml) from 1 mg/ml of aniline in a 13.5-h growing culture containing pyruvate and casamino acids. The conversion rate of aniline to catechol was 82% on a molar basis. The catechol production by the resting cells increased in the presence of glycerol and citrate, and a maximal amount of catechol produced from 1 mg/ml of aniline reached 1.1 mg/ml at the conversion rate of 93% after 2 h of incubation. Enzymes catalyzing the synthesis of catechol from aniline were induced by aniline in strain B-9 cells.

The anaerobic synthesis, purification and characterization of proteases from soil bacteria were investigated. We isolated a facultative anaerobe, Bacillus sp. AM-23, which synthesized extracellular proteases under anaerobic conditions. The bacterium generated two proteases (Protease I and II) on anaerobic culture, which were separated from each other by chromatography on DE-52 cellulose and purified to homogeneity by successive chromatographic techniques. The two proteases were similar to each other in molecular and catalytic properties. The molecular masses of Protease I and II were 20 kDa by gel filtration and 21 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The two enzymes showed the maximal activity at pH 7.6 and were stable up to 55°C in the presence of Ca 2+ . Protease I and II were stable in the range of pH 6.0–8.2 and 6.5–8.5, respectively. Because diisopropyl fluorophosphate strongly inhibited the two proteases, the enzymes were presumed to be serine proteases. The two enzymes showed high hydrolytic activities for peptides with hydrophobic amino acid residues. The results revealed that there were several differences in molecular mass and substrate specificity between these “anaerobic” proteases and the serine proteases from aerobic microorganisms and animals.

Aoki, K. and Shiogama, Y., 1993. Geoengineering techniques used in the construction of underground openings in jointed rocks. In: M. Langer, K. Hoshino and K. Aoki (Editors), Engineering Geology in the Utilization of Underground Space.Eng. Geol., 35: 167–173. Examples of underground openings used for pumped storage hydroelectric power stations and storage facilities for crude oil in Japan are described. In these examples the observational construction technique is important to compensate for missing data in the preliminary surveys. Some new drilling and assessment techniques that have been developed are also introduced.

Si epitaxial layer was successfully grown by molecular layer epitaxy (MLE), where SiH 2 Cl 2 and hydrogen gases were injected alternately. Monomolecular layer growth was studied as a function of pressure, the gas injection/evacuation time duration and the substrate temperature. The substrate temperature of 825-815°C fulfilled the condition for monomolecular layer growth on the (100) surface, and 890–910°C for growth on the (111) surface, where the film thickness per cycle is saturated at a molecular thickness and does not depend on the SiH 2 Cl 2 injection pressure. With the alternative injection of SiHCl 3 and H 2 gases, no film growth was obtained. From the results of mass spectroscopic measurement, as the main surface adsorbed species in the Si-Cl-H system, SiCl 2 was inferred.

The results of laboratory experiments on changes in the mechanical properties of various types of rock at low temperature (to -160°C), and the results of thermal shock tests, and freezing and thawing tests (from 15°C to -45°C, up to 300 temperature-change cycles) are described. Thermal conductivities and the expansion (shrinkage) rate of various rocks at temperatures from +15°C to -160°C are measured and the temperature-dependent thermal characteristics are examined. Engineering problems for cryogenic storage —e.g., the critical freezing temperature of seepage water flow into the caverns, durability of rock bolt and grout materials under low temperature—are examined in some fundamental experiments.

Classic takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is characterized by transient dysfunction of the apical portion of the left ventricle with hyperkinesis of the other parts of the heart wall. Recently, wall motion abnormalities in parts other than in the apical portion of the heart have been reported. Inverted TCM is one form of these anomalies. In this form, the basal segments rather than the apical part of the heart are akinetic/dyskinetic, and the apex is hyperdynamic. Emotional or physical stress is known to trigger TCM, leading some authors to call TCM stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SC). Hypoglycemia is regarded as one of the physical stresses that cause TCM/SC. We present a case of inverted TCM/SC with hypoglycemia. In this case, a 60-year-old woman was brought to our hospital with loss of consciousness caused by hypoglycemia. Initially, the echocardiography revealed an inverted takotsubo contractile pattern. The patient was stabilized with continuous intravenous fluids and a glucose injection, whereas the echocardiography on day 4 showed an almost normal contractile pattern. Among the case reports regarding hypoglycemia as a preceding stressor of TCM/SC, a case of inverted TCM/SC with hypoglycemia is rare. Hypoglycemia is a relatively common case in emergency department; however wall motion abnormalities are not usually expected in hypoglycemic patients. Thus, undiagnosed self-limited TCM/SC cases are possible among hypoglycemic patients. TCM/SC is reported to be a cause of torsade de pointes, which can be fatal. This might warrant an echocardiogram for hypoglycemic patients so as not to overlook TCM/SC in the emergency department.

A procedure was developed for a rapid staining of proteins in polyacrylamide gels with tannic acid and the extraction of enzymatic activity from the gels. Lysozyme and Taka-amylase A were stained with tannic acid and localized on pH 4.3, and 8.0 and 9.5 gels, respectively. After the gels were rinsed in buffer solutions, the activities of the enzymes were recovered in good yield from the gels. The use of these techniques is discussed.